“Your choice,” he replied with a shrug, but she saw the panic in his eyes. “Don’t expect anything from me for the thing.”
“This baby is not athing,” she snarled. “It’s mine, and itisyours.”
“Doubtful. I’ve heard you’re screwing at least three other guys.”
She didn’t know if he was just saying that or if he had heard such a thing. “I haven’ttalkedto three other guys this week.”
“You don’t have to speak to screw.”
“You said you loved me.” She didn’t say this in a pathetic pleading way but stated it because she had nothing else to say.
“That was before I knew you were a whore.”
And that was the end of it for her. Charlie bent, returned the test to her dance bag, and rose to face him. “Take me home.”
“I’m not going to sit at dinner while you spew your lies to your parents.”
“I’m not going to tell my parents you’re the father of my baby.”
“And why would I believe a lying slut like you?”
She’d never in her life wanted to hit someone as badly as him, but she kept herself restrained. “Because the best thing for my child will be never knowing you, and I won’t take the chance my parents might try to force us into something if they know the truth.”
Doubt flickered in his eyes. “Yeah right. You’re going to tell them your lies the first chance you get.”
“No. We’re through. After tonight, I never want to see you again. My baby will never know your name or how pathetic you are, but if you don’t take me home tonight, my parents might suspect something. Sit through dinner, keep everything normal, and I’ll tell them after you leave.”
The idea of having to sit across the table from him made her already iffy stomach roll, but she would do whatever it took to keep her baby protected from him. There was a chance her parents would make them marry if they learned the truth. She’d rather face life on the streets—which was probably where she would end up after telling her parents—than a lifetime with Chad as she finally saw him for what he was—pathetic.
“After tonight, you’ll never have to see me again, and thankfully, I won’t have to seeyouagain either,” she said. “I can’t think of anything worse than being tied toyoufor the rest of my life.”
Though he wanted nothing to do with their child, a disbelieving look came over his face. Charlie knew that look wasn’t because he doubted her motives but because he couldn’t believe she wasn’t chasing afterhim.
How could she, a pregnant teen with no one to rely on,notwanthim? He was handsome, ran a successful business, and was, by all accounts, a catch. He was also a pathetic loser who preyed on young girls because he knew women would see him for what he was.
“Yeah, right,” he said and gave a small snort of disbelief.
“I am right.” She bent and picked up her bag. “Play your part tonight and then get out of my life.”
With that, she turned on her heel, walked out of the room, and out the door to his car. She stood by his Corvette and waited for him to come out after locking up. They didn’t speak on the ride to her house.
Charlie stared out the window, refusing to think about her shattered dreams or the heartbreak she felt for her innocent baby. She had to formulate a plan to keep her baby safe; the only problem was she had nowhere to go, no money, and parents who wouldn’t allow her to remain in their house as an unwed, pregnant teen.
They arrived at her house, and she climbed out of the car. All through dinner, whenever she spoke, Chad tensed as if waiting for a blow and wouldn’t relax until she finished. Usually, she didn’t talk much to her parents, but she enjoyed his discomfort so much that she found herself discussing the surprisingly warm, March weather they were experiencing for almost a half an hour.
When dinner ended, she walked Chad outside like she normally did, bid him goodnight, and watched while he peeled out of their driveway. He never looked in the rearview mirror as he fishtailed it around the corner and stomped on the gas. Standing there, his obvious need to get away didn’t anger her, but his stupidity for breaking their usual façade with such reckless behavior did.
When he was gone, she turned and headed back into the house. Unwilling to have this hanging over her head, Charlie did the dishes, went upstairs to retrieve her test, and went to find her parents in the living room.
If there was any chance they would let her get a job, she might wait a few months and try to save up some money, but they would never allow it. The sooner they kicked her out, the sooner she would have a chance to get a job, though she had no idea how she would survive. She stole the pregnancy test while she was at the pharmacy with her mother, how could she possibly afford rent and a baby?
She’d find a way; she would do anything for this baby. They would be poor, but this baby was already loved more than she’d ever been.
Maybe, if she waited, she’d have a home for a few more months, but her parents would expect her to return to Chad’s studio tomorrow; she’d rather face a fire-breathing dragon than be anywhere near him again.
Her mother was knitting a scarf while her father read the paper and smoked his pipe. This was their nightly, perfect-family routine, and she was about to blow it sky high.
When she revealed the pregnancy test, her mother sat mutely while her father slowly lowered his paper to stare at her over it. Her mother’s eyes darted anxiously to her father. Was this relentless, harsh woman afraid of him?
